SEATTLE—The four-county central Puget Sound region gained 67,860 people during the last year as its total population reached 4.135 million. Since 2010, the region has gained more than 440,000 new residents, according to the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The pace of population growth slowed compared to the previous two years when the region added more than 80,000 people annually, but still represents a robust rate of growth. It was third-highest increase in population in the past two decades.

Growth in all four counties has dropped off from the peak established in the previous two years. King County increased by 36,500 people or 1.7%, Kitsap County by 2,820 or 1.1%, Pierce County by 12,820 or 1.5% and Snohomish County by 15,720 or 2%. In contrast to overall trends, the growth rate in some places─such as Pierce County and several Snohomish County cities─has increased compared to the previous two years.

Since 2010, growth in the unincorporated areas of Pierce and Snohomish counties has outpaced growth in incorporated areas. In contrast, growth in Kitsap County's cities has outpaced growth in the county's unincorporated communities. In King County, unincorporated places lost population during this period as a result of annexations.

The region's fastest-growing cities in terms of total (nominal) growth include larger cities with designated regional growth centers, including Seattle, Redmond, Kent, Bellevue and Auburn. While growth has slowed somewhat in Seattle, the city still made room for an additional 16,700 people in the last year. Since 2010, Seattle's population has grown by 121,740. Cities with the largest percent growth include fast-growing small cities such as Newcastle, Gig Harbor and Carnation. Lynnwood is a larger city that shows up on both top 10 lists, for total growth and percent growth.

Last month's suburban office park sale on the Eastside of Seattle is representative of the real estate dynamics at work in response to the growth and interest in the area. The seven-building Willow Creek Corporate Center sold for $136 million. That's more than twice what the property sold for three years ago, according to public records. Driving up the value was a large deal by Facebook, which leased about half of the business park. The suburban office park deal at $322 per square foot is indicative of what is going on in Eastside locations outside of downtown Bellevue, H. Pike Oliver, managing partner, Urbanexus, tells GlobeSt.com.

“Redmond has long been dominated by Microsoft. Now other tech firms like Facebook are inhabiting the area, in part to be able to poach employees from the likes of Microsoft. And this represents the split in how tech firms are now deciding to locate in the region,” Oliver says. “They are locating both in areas like South Lake Union, Fremont and Wallingford to attract younger Millennials, as well as older empty nester folks who like the more urban locations. And then they are also going to the 'burbs on the Eastside to attract older more family-oriented employees who have school-aged children. So, Google now has a big presence in Kirkland and Facebook is in Redmond, and there are others who are doing the same thing.”

The region's VISION strategy encourages growth in cities and centers, and in major cities such as Tacoma and Seattle in particular. Some of the population growth trends unfolding in the region are consistent with those policy goals while others are not, says Puget Sound Regional Council. The region is currently in the process of updating the VISION plan to extend the growth strategy to the year 2050, preparing for a growing population and economy, along with developing policies to sustain a high quality of life in the region. VISION 2040 calls for the creation of central places with a mix of uses and activities connected by efficient transportation.

The region has designated 29 regional growth centers. These are locations of the region's most significant business, governmental and cultural facilities that are most likely planning for growth.

Nine regional manufacturing/industrial centers are also designated, which are locations for more intensive industrial activity. Both regional growth centers and regional manufacturing/industrial centers are focal points for planned growth, economic development and transportation infrastructure investments, says the council.

Puget Sound Regional Council worked with members and other partners to develop ways to support and recognize the region's diverse centers. Following extensive review and a public comment period, the executive board adopted the revised framework in March 2018. The council will be working with members and partners to implement the new framework. This establishes more consistent criteria throughout the region and ensures that centers are developing as thriving, equitable and connected communities.

Instant Insights /

Population Growth is Third-Highest in Two Decades

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